Q: What is the highest Social Security retirement monthly amount? A listener called in this question during a recent live radio show. At the time, I did not know the 2012 amount but have since looked it up. I’ll give the amount today but first should mention that it changes every year. Why would the highest… Read More

Q: Will a widow lose her Social Security if she remarries? A: Even a straightforward question such as this can have different answers depending on the Social Security benefit involved. With this in mind, I strongly suggest that you contact Social Security and ask about your specific situation before getting remarried. Social Security survivors benefits are the… Read More

Today continues the five questions used in making a Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability medical decision. Earlier posts covered the first question, Are you working?, and the second, Is your condition “severe”? To be severe, the medical condition must significantly limit your ability to do basic work-related activities for at least one… Read More

Individuals, businesses and organizations use online social media platforms to circulate information about themselves. Including Social Security, government agencies do too. On a national level, the Social Security Administration has Facebook, Twitter and YouTube sites in addition to the agency website, www.socialsecurity.gov. However, in the sense of using popular communication to reach an audience, the Social… Read More

Today continues the five questions used in making a Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability medical decision. Are you working? is the first question. If yes, the local Social Security office evaluates the work activity. In 2012, earnings that average more than $1,010 per month will probably result in denial without further medical… Read More